Clothes-pin.



No. 781,389 PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

I. s. BANKS. CLOTHES PIN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1904.

WITNESSES; 4 mmvroe UNITED STATES Patented. January 31, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SCOTT BANKS, OF PORTSMOUTH, -VIRGINIA.

CLOTH ES-PIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,389, dated January 31, 1905.

Application filed-September 29, 1904. Serial No. 226,470.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SCOTT BANKs, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented anew and Improved Clothes-Pin, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to clothespins such as used to suspend clothes upon a line to dry.

The object of-the invention is to produce a sists in the construction and form of, thepin to be more fully described hereinafter and definitely set forth in the claims. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in .both views.

Figure 1 represents the device in perspective, indicating the same as attached to a clothes-line; and Fig.2 is a partial side elevation looking in the direction in which the clothes-line extends, so as to illustrate thej manner in which the pin may pass into position upon the line.

Referring particularly to the parts, 1 represents the body of the pin, which consists, as shown, of two superposed substantially rectangular frames 2 and 3, the said frames being united at their lower edges to form a hinged connection 4, including a coil-spring 5, said spring being preferably adapted to constrain the frames 2 and 3 apart. The sub stantially vertical side bars 6.0f the frames 2 and 3 cooperate, 'so as to form jaws 7, opening upwardly, as shown. These bars are preferably ofiset or bent in wavy lines, as at 8, which construction enhances the efiiciency of the jaws, as will be readily understood. It should be'stated that the jaws 7 are utilized to suppreferably twisted together at the base of the hook, as indicated at 14. At a point on the.

bar 9 substantially opposite to the hook 11 Atsubstantially the middle point of the wire constituting the same is twisted, as

.at 15, and bent upwardly, so as to form a fork 16, presenting a pair of oppositely-disposed tines 17 the bodies of which tines preferably incline upwardly and outwardly, as indicated, the tips 18 thereof being slightly inclined in- Wardly, as shown, in the direction of the hook 11. These forks 17, like the hook 11, are

preferably formed of two strands of wire, the

wire between the said forks being bent, so as to form a bight 19, which normally rests against the inner side of the lip 13 aforesaid. I

From an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be observed that the extremity of the downward extension 12 of the hook 11 projects beyond the bight 19. This is for the purpose of facilitating the passage of a clothes-line 20 into the space surrounded by the'hook 11. It will be understood that the line would be applied carrying-with it the fork 17, as will be readily understood.

From this construction evidently the clothes-' pin may be very quickly applied to a line, and after it has been applied it cannot be accidentally dislodged by the wind. The clothes-pinv may after attachment be slid along the line to any point desired. For this reason it is extremelyuseful in connection with pulleylines, such as used by persons occupying flats, for moving the clothes out upon the line, which is at a great height from the ground.

Garments may be readily detached from the clothes-pins by pulling the garments upwardly out of the jaws 7. If it is desired to take down the garment at one side of the clothespin without disturbing the garment supported in the other side thereof, this may be readily effected by forcing open one of the jaws without disturbing the position of the other, this mode of operation being made possible by the form of the frame and its resilient character.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A device of the class described comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed frames presenting a pair of oppositely-disposed jaws, said frames making substantial hinged connection together and being resiliently constrained, one of said frames having a hook formed at the upper portion thereof, adapted to overlie a line, the other of said frames having an extension substantially opposite to said hook, operating as a guard therefor.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed substantially rectangular frames, making substantial hinged connection at their lower edges and presenting a pair of oppositely-disposed jaws, one of said frames having a hook at the upper side thereof, adapted to engage a line, the other of said frames having a fork cooperating with said hook and constituting a guard therefor.

3. A device of the class described comprisingapair of oppositely-disposed substantially rectangular frames, having substantial hinged connection at their lower edges, said hinged connection comprising a resilient coil constraining said frames apart, one of said frames having a hook disposed upwardly therefrom and presenting a downwardly-disposed extension, and the other of said frames having an upwardly-disposed fork engaging said extension and constrained thereagainst by said coil, said fork constituting a guard for said hook.

4:. A device of the class described comprisinga pair of oppositely-disposed, substantially rectangular frames having a substantial hinged connection at their lower edges, said hinged connection comprising a spring constraining said frames apart, said frames having vertical bars diverging at their upper portions and forming jaws therebctween, said frames having upper horizontal bars, said horizontal bar of one of said frames having an upwardly-disposed hook with a downwardlydisposed extension, said last extension having a downwardly and laterally inclined lip, the said upper bar of the other of said frames having an upwardly-disposed fork presenting tines lying respectively on opposite sides of said downward extension of said hook and presenting a bight resting against said lip, said tines having upwardly and inwardly disposed extremities.

5. A clothes-pin formed of wire and comprising a pair of oppositely-disposed, substantially rectangular frames having a hinged connection comprising a spring constraining said frames apart, said frames having vertical bars diverging at their upper portions and forming jaws therebetween, said frames having upper horizontal bars, said horizontal bar of one of said frames having an upwardly-disposed hook with a downwardly-disposed extension, said last extension having a downwardly and laterally inclined lip, the said upper bar of the other of said frames having an upwardly-disposed fork presenting tines lying respectively on opposite sides of said downward extension of said hook and presenting a bight resting against said lip, said tines having upwardly and inwardly disposed extremities, said hook and said tines being formed of double wire and the wire forming said hook and said fork being twisted at the bases thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN SCOTT BANKS.

Witnesses:

Tnos. M. Honens, R. S. BROOKS. 

